I get what you’re saying, but I’m not entirely sure I’m comfortable calling it a minor infraction.
Having been kissed against my will, it was such a deeply traumatic experience that I can still recall the moment with near-perfect clarity over 25 years later. I can still recall the violation, anger, shame and total helplessness.
I’m genuinely unsure what makes it a minor infraction. It remains legally sexual assault. No one is trying to call it rape.
My story and personal feelings aside, if this is what he does without thinking when the eyes of the world are on him, I feel confident he’s done far worse when there’s no one there to see. This was nearly instinctive behavior for him.
I think the more telling aspect is his reaction after the fact. He tried to minimize what he did, saying he was caught up in the moment, and then said it was consensual.
I’ve felt the “I’m so happy I could kiss you!” feeling, so I can empathize with that concept. I’ve never acted on it, or kissed anyone against their will, but it is an impulse I could at least understand. That isn’t a justification for sexual assault, and he shouldn’t retain his job and should face legal consequences even in that circumstance. Not a “minor infraction” by any stretch, but it would be a different situation, one less severe than the reality.
But if that were the truth, then he should have said that and apologized. Gaslighting the victim and then calling her a liar tells me this wasn’t a moment of excitement, it wasn’t him misreading the signs. He does not respect her as a person and will use all available means to silence his critics.
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I get what you’re saying, but I’m not entirely sure I’m comfortable calling it a minor infraction.
Having been kissed against my will, it was such a deeply traumatic experience that I can still recall the moment with near-perfect clarity over 25 years later. I can still recall the violation, anger, shame and total helplessness.
I’m genuinely unsure what makes it a minor infraction. It remains legally sexual assault. No one is trying to call it rape.
My story and personal feelings aside, if this is what he does without thinking when the eyes of the world are on him, I feel confident he’s done far worse when there’s no one there to see. This was nearly instinctive behavior for him.
Throw the book at him.
I think the more telling aspect is his reaction after the fact. He tried to minimize what he did, saying he was caught up in the moment, and then said it was consensual.
I’ve felt the “I’m so happy I could kiss you!” feeling, so I can empathize with that concept. I’ve never acted on it, or kissed anyone against their will, but it is an impulse I could at least understand. That isn’t a justification for sexual assault, and he shouldn’t retain his job and should face legal consequences even in that circumstance. Not a “minor infraction” by any stretch, but it would be a different situation, one less severe than the reality.
But if that were the truth, then he should have said that and apologized. Gaslighting the victim and then calling her a liar tells me this wasn’t a moment of excitement, it wasn’t him misreading the signs. He does not respect her as a person and will use all available means to silence his critics.
He belongs in prison.